Dyersburg travels to Dyer County to open regular season

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

With the preseason in the rearview mirror, the 2024 regular season is here for high school football teams here in Tennessee.

For local fans, this means one of the more anticipated games takes place this Friday night in Newbern as Dyersburg travels to Dyer County High School for Week 1 action scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.

This marks the second straight season the two teams have met in the opener with Dyersburg winning last season, 33-7, at J.C. Sawyers Stadium.

Dyersburg currently leads the rivalry which renewed in 2021, 2-1, and 9-4 all-time.

Dyer County Head Coach David Whittle said motivation should not be a problem this week for the teams.

“The good thing about it is you don't have to motivate these guys,” Whittle said of his team. “You're playing your county rival.

“But, I do think it's going to be a good test to see where we're at early in the season. Dyersburg's got a really good football program. It's going to be exciting and a bunch of people are going to be there. And, what I told the kids, it's not only Dyersburg but it's the first game of the year. It should be exciting.”

Whittle agreed it is good to have the game at Dyer County where the Choctaws last defeated Dyersburg, 21-9, in 2022.

“Anytime you can play at home, it's great,” Whittle said.

In the rivalry, the home team has won the last five meetings – all three since 2021, in 2009, and in 2010.

“I like playing this early in the season because you get to see where you're at,” Whittle explained. “It gives you a measuring stick for the rest of the year.”

Dyersburg Head Coach Bart Stowe said this is an exciting time heading into Friday night's season opening game.

“Everybody is always excited about the first game,” Stowe explained. “Then you put double on it when it's the county rival. The game doesn't have playoff implications on the game – it has county bragging rights.

“City school versus the county school. It'll be a great environment and a great competition on the field. Our players know their players and they know ours. We know their coaching staff and they know ours. It's going to be a fun night.”

With both teams playing in last week's STAR Physical Therapy-West Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic High School Football Jamboree at Dyersburg High School, each coach had a chance to scout their Week 1 opponent.

Whittle shared what he saw of the Trojan offense during it's 27-0 win over Obion County Central in the final game of the night last Friday.

“They've got backs that can run and I thought they blocked really well up front,” Whittle pointed out. “The quarterback did some good things running their offense.

“I thought their team speed really hurt Obion County.”

Whittle admitted the team speed is going to be a concern for the Choctaw defense this week.

Dyersburg played a pretty big arsenal of running backs last week against the Rebels, including senior A.J. Higgins and junior Necari Hall among others while senior Trenton Jones and freshman Logston Morgan took snaps at quarterback.

“Anytime you play somebody that's a good football team, you've got concerns,” the Choctaw head coach explained. “They've got a lot of guys that can run.”

When looking at Dyer County's offense, Stowe said the Choctaws are very explosive.

“They're well-balanced – run and throw,” Stowe explained. “They've got running backs who can run it and they throw it to them. Their quarterbacks can run it and throw it. They have playmakers outside at the receiver position. And, they have good size up front in their offensive line.”

Choctaw running backs Ja'Bari Livingston and Korey Taylor along with quarterback Landon Daniels and receiver Jamin Gauldin will be players for Dyersburg's defense to key on.

Stowe pointed to the defensive line to set the tone to and stop the run, but added the Choctaw offense will spread out the Trojan defense.

“They're going to spread us out from sideline to sideline,” the Trojan head coach said. “We've got to play well on the perimeter.”

On the other side of the ball, Whittle pointed to senior Kalen Edwards and junior Isaiah Thomas as concerns up front.

“And, they've got some other guys, too,” Whittle said. “I think those guys up front – their defensive line – gives us some concern.

“Then you've got their backers that play real well and flow real well. We've got to execute. We're going to run what we run and try to execute it. If it's good enough, that's good enough. If not, we'll go back to the drawing board and try next week. Early in the year, you wanna get a gauge in where you're at.”

Defensively, Stowe said the Choctaws have really good size up front.

“They have a lot of good size and experience,” Stowe pointed out. “They're playing a multiple defense.

“We've got to do a good job with our blocking and our throwing. We've got to execute well.”

Stowe added the Trojan offensive line will need to have a good, consistent night.

“We've got to be physical at the point of attack,” Stowe explained. “Our offensive line has got to be physical and our running backs have to be physical.

“We've got to protect the ball and we can not turn the ball over. Last time we went over there, we turned the ball over a bunch of times. You can't do that. We've got to be consistent in everything you do.”

Both head coaches agreed offensive and defensive line play is going to be a big factor on Friday night.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at Dyer County High School in Newbern.

“I think it's good for the county to play this game,” Whittle added. “Our kids are really looking forward to it.”

“It's going to be an exciting night,” Stowe added. “I know the fans will definitely be there and I look forward to it.”